Chapter Text
It was flying through the third alleyway that Erwin thought this might be a problem for him. He had never seen eyes that color. Erwin cursed under his breath and swooped down. Steel sang against steel as he drove them both toward a building. They slammed into the brick. His irises were true grey, like a storm. Like nothing he had ever seen.
His lapse of focus was rewarded with a heel to the back of the knee. The target slid out from him but was too slow. Erwin pulled him easily back around by the arm. He thought he would be simpler to restrain due to his size, but he, notably, fast. And nimble. The target managed to land a hit on his jaw with the blunt end of his dagger. Erwin tasted blood as the corner of his mouth curled into a half smile. He ducked low and swept his tiny opponent up at the waist. Slammed his body against the wall, pinning the target with his chest. Hand gripped hand, and the dagger in it, steady above them.
“You can stop now. You’re surrounded.”
“Fuck off.”
“We have your friends.”
He watched sharp features smooth as the realization sunk home. Felt the muscles under his hand ease a touch. Such a slender wrist. He could easily pin both one-handed.
The sound of the knife dropping startled him, but he didn’t flinch.
“What do you want?” the target panted out under him. And in that moment, staring into stormy grey eyes, he couldn’t dare say. Instead he focused in on the almost comical furrow between the brows of an otherwise beautiful face. The bow of pouty lips. His thumb mindlessly stroked at the soft skin of the wrist held underneath it.
He was too lost to keep his mask up. His eyes were likely giving him away. It was already enough effort to keep his hips off this one, careful to not give away all the chase had sparked deep in his gut.
“I want to make a deal.”
Pupils dilated under dark, thick lashes, and Erwin grinned. Something stirred deep in his stomach, wound its way up his spine. He worried it may stay there.
_
“Where are they?” Levi snarled.
“Your subordinates?”
What a pompous ass. All muscle and expensive cologne. And still-styled hair despite the chaos.
“Friends, asshole.”
“Mmm. They’re safe. For now.”
He nodded, understanding.
“Who taught you to use ODM gear?”
“Who taught you to style your stupid hair like that?”
The man laughed, and with his body pushed against his, it shook right through both of them.
“You fly well. Were you military?”
Levi wasn’t really listening. He had never seen someone so gleeful to catch a street rat and he didn't understand. This man hadn’t knocked him out. He hadn’t really hurt him. Just kept staring at him. Like this beast of a man wanted to eat him whole. Under the smell of cologne, was pine? Pine wood? Maybe it was the smell of the world above.
The man pushed into him, bringing him back to attention.
“Ex-military?”
Levi cocked his head to the side.
They were no longer alone. Levi saw scouts closing in from all paths. It really was done. Shackles clicked over his wrist before he was pushed down to the ground.
Now with some distance between them he was able to see his captor at full height. Strong, no doubt. Muscular, well-fed. Skin tinted with that bit of gold you only saw on those from above. Hair: stupid, but neat. Golden. In a different circumstance, he would of almost said he was -
Cold slapped against his face and the familiar stench of mud filled his nostrils.
Motherfuckers.
“-the fuck!”
“I said my name is Erwin Smith.”
Hands dragged him back up to his knees, the blonde kneeling to meet his eyes.
“Who are you?”
Levi spat mud.
“Levi”
A wide smile followed. “Levi.” The man said it in a way that he felt. How did he do that? Lingering on every letter. Rolling it on his pompous tongue.
“Levi, you are going to join the Survey Corps.”
-
“I don’t trust ‘em.”
“I know, Mike.”
…
“I’m not sure you needed to push his face in the mud.”
“Worked tho’.”
He clapped his hand over his friend’s shoulders.
“Yeah, I guess it did.”
Erwin quickly said his goodnights and slipped quietly into his room. Slid his back against the door after locking it. His better self thought it all might be a bad idea.
No. No, it was good to get the blood pumping every now and then. It just needed to be flushed out his system. With a sigh he pushed himself from the door and walked in a haze to his bed. He didn’t bother to change, just stripped down. He laid back, fumbling through his nightstand, finding the bottle he was looking for and slicked his hand. Drew firm strokes up and down his length, the memory of the chase still hot in his veins.
Oh but he was a worthy opponent. A mouthy one, but worthy. Erwin wondered if his sharp tongue would still as he was being pounded into. Maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe it would just force more vulgarities from pouty, pretty lips.
He came with a quiet huff, spilling into his hand. Erwin cleaned himself up before falling asleep. Thoughts of the beautiful bird of prey, now caged and in his grasp, flying through his head.
-
Levi didn’t sleep.
His head was spinning. Izzy and Farlan were already resting, so he walked outside. He couldn’t understand how his companions were ready to be under a roof again so quickly. So instead, he walked. Walked until he found a quiet patch of grass out past the stables, and laid down. The sky was overwhelming. Dark and massive and it threatened to swallow him whole. Specks of light were everywhere. They only dizzied him further. He blinked, rubbed his eyes, and tried to make sense of the sky.
Fuck. What would they even do here? He knew he could take down the mark. He didn’t like dirtying his hands this way, but he could. Would. But what then?
It didn’t matter. They were here, and there must be a path to freedom in this. A path that wouldn’t lead to all of them in shackles.
Levi sighed. He sighed and breathed in foreign air, tasting the night and the grass on his tongue until he knew he wouldn’t forget them. Stared into the specks of light until he was certain they would blind him.
-
Days passed easily enough.
It wasn’t hard to impress. The one with glasses cooed and awwed and gasped at his every move. Simple.
Izzy and Far, however, seemed to be more enthusiastic. He didn’t begrudge them for it, even thought he wanted to sometimes. It was so different here. So bright. Big and open and fresh in ways he didn’t even have words for.
Today, they had been running drills with their gear, showing off what they knew, finding out what they didn’t. Levi, chuckled to himself. Amused they were further training a traitor among them. Glasses seemed to think they knew the joke as well. They smiled foolishly at him.
Then the mark entered his vision and his smirk dropped. Four-eyes was already next to him somehow.
“Fuck, Glasses, you move fast.”
They laughed.
“I heard you were hand-picked by the captain. It must be amazing having him helping with your training.”
“Sure. It’s real party everyday.”
“You must be learning so much. His strength is legendary.”
His mind flashed back to large hands on his wrist. The heat of them. Pine.
His face in the fucking mud.
“Tch.”
Erwin stared over at them, eyes blue and icy, and nodded curtly.
“Don’t worry about that steely face. He’s got a tough outside but is just as soft inside as the rest of us.” They slapped him on the shoulder.
“Great. Don’t touch me.”
Levi walked away without fanfare.
His legs were shorter, by a length, but he caught up swiftly all the same. Tried not to make it obvious he had to make double time to keep pace.
“Levi.”
“Asshole”
“Captain Asshole.”
Always something clever to say.
“How are you settling in?”
“I hate it.”
“Well, there’s always the gallows.” he laughed.
“Tch.”
“You seem to be doing well with training. I’m quite pleased with you, Levi.”
He skipped a step. Lost pace. Stared.
Erwin moved a few more paces before he noticed the absence. Before he stopped and turned around.
Levi kicked at the dirt.
“You’re doing well out there.” He repeated. Hand clapping on his shoulder. "Don't think I haven't noticed.
He forgot what he had gone up to him for.
“Whatever.” he huffed and turned back around.
—
Erwin couldn’t recall the last time his stomach fluttered like that. Watching Levi soar, he could scarcely breathe. He spiraled through the air like a hawk chasing it’s prey. Captivating. Enthralling. Erwin was beaming. Caught Levi’s eyes and smiled. His little recruit rolled his eyes in response, but he didn’t care. He’d come around. Or one of them would end up dead.
Deep in the back of his mind, his better self reminded him how dangerous this was. But watching him fly, really fly, he just couldn’t care.
—
Levi had felled 5 others at practice before Captain Pompous came around and looked at him with that oh-so-charming cocky smirk of his.
“Looks like someone needs a more advanced teacher.”
“Fuck off, Blondie.” Levi let loose the arm of the recruit he was still holding and the recruit dropped with it. Erwin carefully removed his jacket and walked toward him, filling his vision. Blotted the sun itself right out.
“Not really fair to the others now is it?” He whispered. Chuckled. His laugh was clear and deep. Someone who breathed real air their whole life. “Not against someone who’s had to fight as you have.”
“Don't act like you know me,” he spat.
“Mm. I don't know you. Not yet.” And Erwin lunged.
He was fast for a man of his size. Levi dodged, quickly circling around him. All their fancy equipment meant they were often weaker on foot, less practice. He bested them in the air too, but this is where he-
-Ground hit cheek. Heard it as much as he felt it. The sharp push of an elbow on his back held him down.
Fine, it was the price of underestimating him. Levi flipped them back over, throwing Erwin off him easily. It earned him a knowing glance, a ridiculous eyebrow tilted up. Levi laughed, he couldn't help it. Taunted his pompous opponent with a sharp lift of his chin.
But before he could move forward, he was down again, twisted around and locked in Smith’s thighs. Knocked the breath out of him.
He glared but the asshole was grinning. Wide but dark. Fuck, he was strong.
“You fight dirty!” he gasped out. Legs squeezed tight around his waist.
“I fight to win.”
They locked eyes like that, trapped together. Like eagles in battle, like two feral dogs circling. Prodding for weakness, not sure how far it would go. Something in Levi was sliding just under his skin. The beast underneath, searching and finding the call of the same.
Levi's lip curled. “You’ll have to do better than that.” and he forced himself a touch looser, hands driving down into Smith’s thighs to do so.
“Okay you two. That’s enough showing off.” the drill leader yelled, finally coming over to see the mess left in his absence. Levi blinked, hands stilled glued above Erwin’s knees. Awkwardly intimate. His fingers twitched, slightly. Unnoticeable.
“Thank you Captain Smith, but I will resume leading the recruits now if that’s okay.”
The captain smirked at him again. This strange fuck. His thighs were still around him, but no longer suffocating. He wondered if this bastard would still be giving him that stupid grin when he slit his throat.
“Of course.” Skin turned soft under Levi’s grip and his mark slid away from him. Levi stayed still. His narrowed eyes followed the captain up as he stood and dusted himself off.
He didn’t know yet if he could best him, but he had new information. A better feel for what he was up against. Nerves were tingling in the tips of his fingers. He was twitchy, on high alert. A feeling that he couldn’t shake the whole day.
-
Some days were smoother than others.
“You need to work with them, Levi.”
Somedays it was like breaking in a stallion. Strong, proud, and beautiful.
“You can’t just ignore orders.” he repeated.
“They’re morons.”
But also destructive. Thrashing in his stable.
Erwin pinched the bridge of his nose.
“They’re just trying to teach you.”
“I’m better than they are.”
“Not at felling titans.”
His eyes rolled.
“It’s different out there, Levi. You have to learn to work as a team. You have to trust.”
“They don’t trust me.”
“That’s not…. that’s not how it works here.”
He paused. Sizing up the fierce, beautiful man he wanted to pull apart and put back together.
“Would you trust me?”
“What? No. You fucking kidnapped me-”
“Do you trust my abilities? My judgement?”
“Fuck off.” But the venom wasn’t quite there.
“Levi,” He leaned forward on his desk, hands folded under his chin.
“You’ll be under me, soon.”
“What?”
“I’ll request for you to be moved under my command.”
“What...Wait... To punish me?”
Erwin felt himself frown.
“I brought you here because I want to see you soar. Not clip your wings.”
Levi sighed audibly. Rolled his eyes.
“What the fuck does that even mean?” Levi sighed. “Are we done?” He didn’t stay to hear an answer.
-
Who even talks like that? He must choose his words sometimes just to confuse him.
“Nothing in his room.”
Showing off how smart he his.
“He must keep the papers on him.”
Thinking he’s better than them. So learned, bred in the sun. Stomping around with that self-important walk that comes from being tall and handsome. Fucking showoff.
“Levi?” Far nudged him with his shoulder.
“Mm?”
“You hear what I said? He must keep the documents on him.”
“Yeah. Yeah, makes sense. I didn’t feel them on him, but that weird bastard probably would sleep with 'em strapped to him.”
“Didn’t what?” Izzy scrunched her nose.
Levi looked up.
“I’ll check better next time.”
Izzy stared at him.
What?
“Doesn’t take care of the second half of the deal though.” Far carried on.
“There’s an opening in there,” Levi interjected.
By now, he knew the captain woke before dawn. He knew he broke his fast in his office, and he knew that it smelled like old leather. And pine. He knew he took a flurry of meetings and then ate lunch with the recruits. He did his rounds in the afternoon, trained with the other officers, and then retired to his quarters.
So he told them so.
“…see? He’s like clockwork.” he huffed. Thinking of all the places their payload could be kept. Against the low of his back? Tucked tight against this chest. Well, he knew it wasn’t strapped to his thighs…
Izzy was still staring, relentless. It drove him mad.
“What?”
“Nothing! You just seem to know a lot about his uh, day.”
“Of course I do! How else are we gonna do this? Have you not been watching our smiling asshole of a captain?”
Izzy scrunched her nose again. Far stilled against him before lifting his head off his shoulder.
“The captain… smiles?”
-
It was better, in some ways, under Blondie’s direction, Levi thought as they wound between wooden titans. He didn’t have to wait for the other recruits as much, watching bored as they flailed around in their gear, soft and weak.
It was annoying in some ways. Blades sent cotton flying like rain all around him as he looped toward the final figure. How he couldn’t say two words without slapping a hand on his back. Always looking at him like he was some prize that he had won.
His blades hit home before Erwin could reach the final figure. His boots hit the ground with a thud. Captain tight-ass soon landing in front of him.
He looked annoyed. Surprise, surprise.
“Levi, you’re good, but you’re still too in your own head.”
“The fuck does that mean?”
“Your squad is what will keep you alive out there. You have to learn to move with others. Do you dance?”
Levi stared. “Are you asking me to fucking waltz with you by the wooden titans?”
That stupid smile.
“In a way. Follow me.”
He took to the air, sliding easily between the dummies. He was fast. Not as fast as he was, but a respectable speed. Graceful, for being so tall.
“Come on.” He shouted from the shoulder of a wooden giant.
Levi sighed, but took to the air nonetheless.”
“I’ll go right, you left, then switch.”
Whatever, simple.
...’til his foot hit Erwin’s line. One of his blades went flying and he had to maneuver to hit ground with his feet rather than his face.
Erwin landed in front of him with that stupid cocksure grin.
“You didn’t answer. Do you know how to dance?”
“What? Some…the fuck you on about…”
He sheathed his blades, reaching a hand out to take Levi’s.
He was too stupefied to resist.
“Smith, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”
The other rested now at his waist.
“It’s like a dance.” He pushed, guiding him, their chests ghosting across each other as Levi moved around him, mirroring his motions.
“You will only get so far on your own. You have to know how your squad moves.”
This was ridiculous. Heat hit Levi's face.
“Moving in tandem, often flying within inches of the other.”
He pressed them on, a push of thigh guiding his.
“Like a beautiful, brutal, arial dance.” He chuckled. Weird bastard.
Levi was turning, pulled by his wrist, still holding a blade,
“Fuck-“ he huffed as his chest hit Smith’s.
“-if I slice your face off, its your own fault.”
Erwin looked down at him. Smiled.
“You won’t.”
The tips of Levi’s ears burned.
He scoffed and kicked him swiftly in the shin.
-
It was with his back flat in the mud that Erwin knew, this was indeed going to be a problem for him. Levi was straddling his hips, hand mashed into his face, the other pushing off from his chest. Like this, there was no hiding his arousal.
“Levi-”
“Shut up, blondie.” He spat from above him. Brows pinched tight, eyes alight with the storm behind them. Levi’s hips pushed back as he leaned forward, likely to wrap his other hand around his throat. And then suddenly he stilled, aware. Their eyes caught. Erwin knew they would.
“Oi!”
“Yes, Levi?”
His hips bucked down, once, with vigor. Levi staring indignantly down at him.
That really didn’t help.
Erwin couldn't hold his gaze. Let his eyes drift slowly up to the sky. Stayed there. He tried not to smile.
“What the fuck, blondie?”
“Mmm. Whatever could you mean, Levi.”
“Fuck off, your prick is in this fight now?”
“Well, Levi, when a man is forcefully riding another man, these things can happen."
Levi pushed himself to sit up fully with a huff, but he didn’t roll off of him. He stayed defiantly in place, palms flat against his chest. He was staring a hole in him that Erwin felt, but didn’t return.
“I should of pegged you for a pervert, getting off to being beaten to a pulp.”
“Well, I’m not there yet, Levi. Guess you should keep hitting me.” He did smile.
Levi punched his shoulder before crossing his arms.
“Fuck off. You come down here to spar just to get your rocks off?”
As much as he wanted to see where this would go, he just couldn’t ignore an opening. A crack to twist a finger in.
“Oh. Is that all this is for you?”
His eyes narrowed, rolled back down slowly to meet Levi’s.
“…Sparring?”
He stilled. Like an animal in a trap. Legs tightened around his hips.
“Fuck you. What else would it be?”
Levi pushed all the way off of him, forcefully, knocking the breath from his lungs.
“You wanted me to train, asshole, I’m training.”
“Of course...” Erwin righted himself and brushed what dirt, and mud, and grass he could off of himself, adjusting himself in the process.
“…Training.”
He turned and left, Levi without a retort to see him off.
-
This time, he didn’t make it to his bed. He slumped against his door, hazily shedding his pants to the hip and bending forward as he took his cock in hand.
The ever-nagging thought, worming its way deep into his brain, screamed and flailed in his head. But it couldn’t compete with the noise that was Levi. With the feel of that lithe body - nearly weightless on him. The quick grind of his ass against him. Fuck, so light. He could probably bounce him on his lap without breaking a sweat.
Erwin stroked himself with sloppy, rushed movements. There was a fervor, a desperation that he hadn’t felt in years. So small but so strong, straddled above him. That sharp tongue would lay slack in his beautiful, little mouth. His brow furrowed, glowing with a sheen of sweat as he rode himself breathless on his cock. Or maybe he would stop and make him beg. Leave him aching and whining and panting, desperate for release. Remain still until slender fingers clawed at his back. He would let him thrash. Paw at him with all that strength. Breaking on his own need until he was made soft and malleable.
He cursed as he came.
-
“He knows.” Levi huffed.
“What?” Farlan asked. One light eyebrow cocked.
“I dunno, fuck, everything?”
“Everything?”
“I don’t know. He just, knows.”
“Okay, okay, how do you know?”
“I just know.” They looked at each other. Past each other, somehow.
“Okay. Okay, just breathe. What exactly did he say?”
“It’s not, he didn’t,”
Levi looked down. Rage turning to embarrassment.
“It wasn’t what he said, it was how he said it. Like he could see right through me.”
Farlan sighed.
“So, he didn’t actually say anything, specifically?”
“No, it was like a question, that he already knew the answer to.”
“Maybe you just need some sleep. We’ll figure it out in the morning.”
“Tomorrow could be too late…”
“You’re not in shackles, I’m not in shackles.”
“No, you’re right, Far. Maybe he’s using it… he’s clever.”
“Lee, get some rest. You, you sound kinda…”
Levi said nothing, as he knew his face said it all.
“Look, let’s get some rest.”
—
Levi was confined, but he wasn’t trapped. He was wrapped in heat. Strong hands held at his hips. Over his shoulder weighing him down. He let them. It felt good to let them. To be pushed and prodded and pulled by them.
“Levi.”
Hot breath hit his ear, the base of his skull. Sent shivers down him. He pushed his hips back, his head, writhing now against the firm body behind him. Warm and hungry and for more.
”Do it.”
A warm mouth at the nape of his neck. He wanted teeth.
”mmm, Levi…”
He shoved the hand hard against his neck, a challenge. A plea.
“Do it,” he mumbled. Hazy, eyes fluttering. “If you think you can fucking take me, do it…” bucked his hips back, defiant.
“Levi!”
He woke, a hand shaking his shoulder.
“It’s okay.”
Levi turned over. Unhappy at the expression he found there. Fars eyes glistening at the edges.
“I, it’s okay…. but- why would I want to hurt y-
….that’s not me, Lee. That’s not me.”